Reminder: Start with face work, and begin body after
face is under control. Also, try to start genital work one year prior to SRS
if possible.

2001 update: Any further electrolysis and hair removal
I need, I don't consider to be transition-related. That's a good feeling!

2002 update: As of the end of February, I have not had any facial
hair removal of any kind (not even a little 15 minute session) in about six
months. I have four or five medium-coarse hairs on my upper lip and a couple
of wispy ones along the jawline.

Because I was obsessed with transition and wanted an accurate account of how
long it took to complete my electrolysis, I kept a frighteningly meticulous
record of my treatment schedule.

My face took approximately 350 hours total, breaking down roughly:

52% in year 1 (first 12 months)

26% in year 2

17% in year 3

4% in year 4

1% in year 5

I don't claim my treatment time is typical. Mine has taken longer than the average I have seen reported,
in part because my first year was done without hormones, plus my facial hair
was very coarse. Also, my electrologist had never worked on a TS from the onset
before, so I was a guinea pig. The chart does show measurable results, though.
So, for your consideration, here is documented proof of my obsession.

Facial electrolysis chart: 1995 through 1998

In hours per month (fractions rounded)

KEY:

+ starting out

+ face kept clear with at least 2 long sessions
per week

+ face cleared with
one long session per week

+ 1 session/week, plus treatment with hormones

+ less than one session per week, as needed

95

96

97

98

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

21

+

20

19

+

18

+

+

17

+

+

16

15

+

+

14

13

12

+

11

+

10

+

+

+

+

09

+

08

+

+

+

+

+

07

+

+

+

+

06

+

+

05

+

+

+

04

+

+

+

03

+

02

+

+

01

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

00

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

95

96

97

98

CHRONOLOGY:

5/95 started under jawline

8/95 began working down cheeks (after 26 hours)

9/95 first time entire face is clear (after 48 hours)

12/95 whole face cleared each session (after 104 hours)

1995 total hours: 113.5

1995 average hours per month: 14

1995 average hours per week: 3.3

7/96 started hormones: 100 mg spiro, .625 premarin
daily

8/96 increased hormones: 100 mg spiro, 1.25 premarin
daily

9/96 began doing back of neck when needed (not included
in these hours)

The zig-zag pattern is partly due to every other month having five weekly sessions
instead of four. A line of best fit would show a steady progression leading
to completion. A couple of months are unusually low because of missed treatments
due to work-related travel.

In order to gauge progress more accurately, the chart for 1999 and beyond is
in minutes per month. That's a pretty exciting
day when you start thinking of it in minutes instead of hours!

Facial electrolysis chart: 1999-2000

It was kind of amazing-- there was this point when all of the
sudden I just didn't need to go any more!

99

00

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

60

+

+

57

+

54

51

48

45

+

+

42

39

36

+

33

+

30

+

+

+

27

24

21

18

15

+

+

12

09

06

03

00

+

+

+

+

+

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

99

00

5/99 first month with no appointments needed!

1999 total minutes : 369
(6.15 hours)

1999 average minutes per month:
31

1999 average minutes per week:
7

2/00-8/00 no appointments needed!

2000 total minutes : 87
(1.45 hours)

2000 average minutes per month:
7

2000 average minutes per week:
less than 2

Sally's electrolysis chart

Another woman has also logged her 200 hours of electrolysis into a chart to
show diminishing regrowth over time. As with mine, her first year was about
50% of her total costs. Click here to view Sally's electrolysis info.

Body/genital electrolysis table

Prior to transition, I had done some electrolysis on my back and back of neck.
This turned out to be a waste of time and money, since much of that body hair
went away after starting hormones. I urge you to spend
all your time on your face until you can be cleared with less than an hour a
week.

1998

Genital work

Body work

Comments

March

3.0

-

Began body work after face was at 1 hour a month.

April

2.0

-

Thought I had one year for genital work before SRS.

May

6.5

3.5

Got SRS moved way up. Did extensive genital & chest work to prepare.

June

2.5

0.5

Final clearing before surgery.

July

-

4.0

No clearing until 6 weeks after surgery. Did body work instead.

August

2.0

3.5

Resumed clearing prior to 10/28 labiaplasty.

September

3.0

6.0

-

October

3.0

2.0

Labiaplasty 10/28. Last genital work approx. 2 weeks prior.

November

--

1.5

-

December

--

1.5

1998 Totals

22.0

22.5

-

1999

Body work

Comments

January

5

February

1

March

1.25

April

1.5

May

--

June

3.75

July

1.5

August

3

September

1.25

October

2.25

November

.75

December

1999 Totals

21.25

2001 update: in 2000 and 2001, I needed minor amounts of work
on my chest and, um, butt. This amounted to a total of a few hours.

2002 update: As of the end of February, I have not had any facial hair
removal of any kind in about six months. I have quite a few long wispy hairs
on my chest I'll deal with, but these hairs are pretty easy to kill. I just
haven't had tome to go deal with them.